BRIDGEPORT -- Ralph 'n' Rich's, an iconic downtown eatery, will remain at the Main Street location it has occupied for the past seven years, after a judge on Thursday rejected a developer's attempts to evict the restaurant.

"We're not going anywhere," vowed co-owner Richard Ndini. "This was a case of a big company trying to put pressure on the little guy, and we won."

Jon August, who with Harold Rosnick represented the restaurant, described the legal battle against downtown developer 815 Main Street LLC as a real war.

"It was a very contentious matter that has finally been resolved. We feel that justice and equity has been served," August said.

The 815 Main Street corporation, which had taken over ownership of the restaurant's building from People's United Bank in November 2008, attempted to either stop the restaurant from using the basement of the building, where it has its kitchen, or to force the restaurant's owners to pay a much-increased rent to use the space. The developer claimed in a lawsuit that the basement was not included in the original rental deal.

However, in a 17-page decision, state Superior Court Judge Sheridan Moore ruled that the lease, by implication, included use of the basement.

"The court determines that Ralph 'n' Rich's use of the basement is not only permissive, but necessary to its use and enjoyment of the demised premises," the judge ruled.

The judge stated she did not find credible the developer's argument that the restaurant never had permission to occupy the basement, based on evidence presented during an earlier hearing.

"Representatives of 815 LLC were aware that (Ralph 'n' Rich's) were permitted to use the basement by the bank at no additional cost prior to completing the deal that resulted in the lease assignment," the judge wrote.

The restaurant, which had been on John Street, decided to move to the Main Street location after that building was vacated by the bank. The move was arranged by developer Phil Kuchma, who at the time was property and construction manager for the bank.

The restaurant owners later hired Kuchma to renovate the building for them.